World Zoonoses Day

Sri Alluri Seetarama Raju Jayanthi

Sri Alluri Seetarama Raju is brave son of India who laid down his life to free mother India from the oppression of the British. He was born on 4th July 1897. While pursuing his studies at Kakinada, Sri Alluri Seetarama Raju came in contact with a notable freedom fighter, Sri Madduri Annapurnayya, and Rallapalli Atchuta Ramayya, a scholar of high repute. For his further studies he went to Visakhapatnam at the age of 15. Though he didn't have much interest in studies, he was very keen to know more about the political condition of India at that time.

In 1857 during the first war of independence thousands of tribals of Gond land laid their life for their country. Sri Alluri Seetarama Raju went deep into the forests of Gond land to meet the tribals and inspire them to fight for India's independence.

In the tribal areas, the poor and illiterate tribal people were exploited and oppressed blatantly by the Britishers. Since the tribals were not united against the Britishers they took advantage of it and deprived the tribals of their rights. Sri Alluri Seetarama Raju inspired and united the different tribes of the area, trained them in skills of guerrilla warfare and proved to be a terror for the Britishers.

Soon he was ready to attack the enemy with his army. On 22nd August 1922, his tribal army initiated their struggle by raiding three police stations Chintapalli Police Station, Krishnadevipeta Police Station, and Rajavommangi on three consecutive days. After the raids they captured a huge number of guns, bayonets and cartridges and swords. They even freed Veerayya Dora from jail who was a revolutionary.

The British Army was alerted by his actions and platoons of Police and Army were ordered to arrest Sri Alluri Seetarama Raju. He again attacked the British Army at Peddavalasa and defeated them as a result of which they had to bear heavy casualties and finally retreated.

From that day onwards there was a regular warfare between Raju and the Britishers and Raju came out triumphant in all. Nearly for two years(1922 to 1924) he terrorized the British Army and was the ruler of the vast area. Later Britishers were keen to kill him and deployed battalions of Assam Rifles and others. He was killed by the British on one fateful day.

The Department of Posts issued a 50 Paise multicolored stamp in memory of freedom fighter Sri Alluri Sitarama Raju.

Facts and Information about Alluri Sita Rama Raju

Born	He was born on July 4, 1897 in Mogallu village located near Bhimavaram in the West Godavari district. He belonged to a Telugu Kshatriya family.
Died	He died on May 7, 1924 in Mampa village, Visakhapatnam.
Nick Name	He is also famous as Aluri Rampa Rama Raju, Alluri Seetha Rama Raju and Rama Chandra Raju.
Father	Alluri Venkata Rama Raju
Mother	Suryanarayanamma
Brother	Satyanarayana Raju
Sister	Sitamma Dantuluti
Guardian	Rama Chandra Raju (a tahsildar in Narsapur)
Childhood	Sitaram Raju faced many problems in his chilhood after the death of his father. He became the bread earner for his family.
Studies	He attained his primary eduaction at Mogallu, Kovvada, Bhimavaram and Narsapur of West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his high school studies and college education at a Mission high school in Visakapatnam.
Revolution	He participated in the campaigns in the East Godavari and Visakhapatnam in 1921. He raided many police stations in and around Chintapalli, Krishna-devi-peta and Raja-vommangi. He was also involved in the murder of many British army officers, such as Scott Coward and Hites.
Movies	To know more about Sitaram Raju, watch Alluri Seetarama Raju a Telegu movie directed by V. Ramachandra Rao.
Legacy	In his honour, two statues of Raju have been erected, one at Seethammadhara Junction and the other one on the beach road near The Park Hotel in Visakhapatnam. In 1986 a commemorative stamp featuring Raju in the series 'India's struggle for freedom' was issued by the Indian Postal Department.